News that the Lewiston City Council is considering a proposal for a casino shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. In a decade where we’ve had more gaming referenda than governors, it was inevitable that Lewiston would be considered as a potential site; and given that three out of every five Lewiston voters approved of the Oxford County proposal, the timing could not be better.

We have arrived at a point in time where such a development would be a positive thing for the region. If done properly, we will reap the benefits that we so sorely need. As growth in our economy is slow; a resort casino in downtown Lewiston would add scores of jobs directly created by the facility, as well as ones in subsequent development. Being a regional attraction, it will bring something to our city of almost equal importance: disposable income from visitors.

Opponents will say that a casino will just funnel money out of state and send our crime rate skyrocketing, but they won’t acknowledge jobs that would pay wages to area residents, real estate taxes paid to the city, and will omit the positive strides in Bangor.

A casino will not be the only key to helping our economy. I’ve seen firsthand what happens to a community when a casino is the only thing they rely on. But, coupled with smart investment all along the riverfronts of Lewiston and Auburn, it can be an important spoke in the wheel — an anchor that spurs the development we need.

Michael Dumas, Lewiston